Council Approves $50,000 In State Grants For Tennis Courts

EAST HARTFORD — Efforts to revamp the town-run tennis courts at East Hartford High School received a $49,640 boost in state grants this week.

The town council voted Tuesday to use grant money under the Local Capital Improvement Program for the project.

The LoCIP money was initially meant for improvements to the Veterans Memorial Clubhouse, but the types of repairs needed at the clubhouse don't qualify, said Timothy Bockus, director of public works.

"They were being classified as more of a maintenance operation, as opposed to a reconstruction which would be eligible under LoCIP," he said.

Repairs to all eight courts are expected to cost $490,000. Most of the money for project has come together from previous LoCIP allocations, a contribution from the board of education and a grant from the U.S. Tennis Association.

The town is still short nearly $80,000 and Bockus said he will seek additional funds during the next budget season.

The courts will be resurfaced with an acrylic product that comes with a five-year warranty, said Bockus.

"The acrylic allows us to bridge the gaps and some of the larger cracks. It allows movement under the acrylic. It stretches so you don't end up with cracks after it has been applied," he said.

Bid specifications will go out within the next few months. Repairs to four of the courts should begin sometime in the spring, followed by repairs to the remaining courts.

"The goal is to have all eight courts done by the end of construction season 2015, with the first four done by the beginning of the summer," said Bockus.

A new chain-link fence around the court is included in the renovations, along with new lighting and benches.

The tennis courts are nearly 40 years old. Four of them have been abandoned and haven't been used since the 1990s, said Ted Fravel, director of parks and recreation.